Right To Work Helps Fuel the Jobs Engine

Right To Work Helps Fuel the Jobs Engine

The publisher of Virginia Business, Bernie Niemeier, reminds readers among the natural advantages of states  such as  California, New York and Virginia it is often the "legal advantages"  "like being the northernmost Right To Work state and having reasonable tort laws and a relatively low corporate income tax rate" that separates Virginia from the pack. Excerpts from Niemeier's  editorial, Job creation is fueled by existing business expansion: Over the past few years, Virginia’s economic development news has been full of big marquee names: Volkswagen, Altria, Hilton, SAIC, Northrop Grumman and others. The commonwealth has held a winning hand in the high-profile game of attracting corporate headquarters from California, New York and other states. Natural advantages such as the Port of Virginia, Dulles Airport and proximity to Washington, D.C., are important parts of our success. Legal advantages — like being the northernmost right-to-work state and having reasonable tort laws and a relatively low corporate income tax rate — also make Virginia an attractive place to do business. When high-profile new business announcements are made, many take credit and rightfully so. Major out-of-state and international relocations involve the governor’s office, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), regional economic development alliances and local-level economic development offices. We’ve been a little less than humble in continually reminding ourselves and others of our reputation as the best-managed state, one of the best states in which to do business and the most business-friendly state, among other accolades. But perhaps Virginia’s existing businesses have been too humble in taking credit for the jobs their expansion and growth have created, especially during difficult economic times. In fact, existing businesses have led the commonwealth in job creation over the past several years.

Sherman's Folly

Rep. Brad Sherman wants to outlaw Right to Work laws and the Investor's Business Daily takes note: Job Killer: A California congressman wants to eliminate right-to-work laws in 22 states where workers don't have to join unions. If even-higher unemployment is his goal, he has the right idea. Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat who represents a large part of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, has introduced a bill that would repeal right-to-work statutes. These laws let workers employed at organized companies choose for themselves if they're going to join the union or pay union dues. In the 28 states without right-to-work laws, workers are forced to join the union if their employer has been organized. The depths to which lawmakers beholden to unions are willing to descend are almost bottomless, and labor is the second biggest contributor to Congressman Sherman's campaign in the current cycle. He wants to keep that 100% AFL-CIO rating and seems to have no compunction about wrecking jobs elsewhere (California is not a right-to-work state) to keep his union support. Sherman justifies the bill, H.R. 6384, on the free-rider argument. Right-to-work laws, he says, require unions to represent nondues-paying workers, and he wants those "exempt from paying" what he believes is "their fair share" to be forced into unions.

Sherman's Folly

Rep. Brad Sherman wants to outlaw Right to Work laws and the Investor's Business Daily takes note: Job Killer: A California congressman wants to eliminate right-to-work laws in 22 states where workers don't have to join unions. If even-higher unemployment is his goal, he has the right idea. Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat who represents a large part of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, has introduced a bill that would repeal right-to-work statutes. These laws let workers employed at organized companies choose for themselves if they're going to join the union or pay union dues. In the 28 states without right-to-work laws, workers are forced to join the union if their employer has been organized. The depths to which lawmakers beholden to unions are willing to descend are almost bottomless, and labor is the second biggest contributor to Congressman Sherman's campaign in the current cycle. He wants to keep that 100% AFL-CIO rating and seems to have no compunction about wrecking jobs elsewhere (California is not a right-to-work state) to keep his union support. Sherman justifies the bill, H.R. 6384, on the free-rider argument. Right-to-work laws, he says, require unions to represent nondues-paying workers, and he wants those "exempt from paying" what he believes is "their fair share" to be forced into unions.

'Nowhere to Flee' Sherman Strikes Again

'Nowhere to Flee' Sherman Strikes Again

(Source: August 2010 NRTWC Newsletter) Once they finish their education, droves of young Californians are fleeing to Right to Work states, where real incomes are higher. Golden State Rep. Brad Sherman (center) wants to deny them the chance to flee. Credit: www.house.gov Union-Label Solon Bringing Back Right to Work Destruction Scheme Big Labor Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman thinks he knows how to stop employees and employers from fleeing forced-unionism states like his native California: Make sure there's nowhere in the country they can go where the Right to Work is protected. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between April 1, 2000 and July 1, 2009, a net total of 1.51 million Californians left the Golden State. And the reason there is a huge net outflow of people, disproportionately young employees and entrepreneurs, from California to other states isn't because Americans have suddenly grown tired of sunny days and moderate temperatures! From 2000-2009, Net Total Of Five Million Americans Fled Forced-Unionism States

'Nowhere to Flee' Sherman Strikes Again

'Nowhere to Flee' Sherman Strikes Again

(Source: August 2010 NRTWC Newsletter) Once they finish their education, droves of young Californians are fleeing to Right to Work states, where real incomes are higher. Golden State Rep. Brad Sherman (center) wants to deny them the chance to flee. Credit: www.house.gov Union-Label Solon Bringing Back Right to Work Destruction Scheme Big Labor Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman thinks he knows how to stop employees and employers from fleeing forced-unionism states like his native California: Make sure there's nowhere in the country they can go where the Right to Work is protected. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between April 1, 2000 and July 1, 2009, a net total of 1.51 million Californians left the Golden State. And the reason there is a huge net outflow of people, disproportionately young employees and entrepreneurs, from California to other states isn't because Americans have suddenly grown tired of sunny days and moderate temperatures! From 2000-2009, Net Total Of Five Million Americans Fled Forced-Unionism States

Top Union Boss Huffs and Puffs, But Cannot Blow the Facts Down

Top Union Boss Huffs and Puffs, But Cannot Blow the Facts Down

(Source: June 2010 Forced-Unionism Abuses Exposed) It doesn’t take a Sherlock Holmes or an Hercule Poirot to deduce that state policies promoting “exclusive” union bargaining and forced union dues and fees in the public sector have played a major role in driving multiple states to the verge of insolvency this year.  All it takes is the willingness to look at, and respect, the facts. In 2009, according to respected labor economists Barry Hirsch and David Macpherson, 41% of public employees nationwide were subject to a contract negotiated by their employer with a union monopoly-bargaining agent. However, in 22 states, none of which authorize forced union dues for government employees and most of which don’t authorize public-sector union monopoly bargaining, either, fewer than 30% of public servants were unionized.  Not one of these 22 low public-sector-unionization states was to be found on Business Insider’s list, published just last month, of the nine states “most likely to default.” 

Ticking Time Bomb

Ticking Time Bomb

  USA Today examines the financial ticking time bomb that is the public workers pension system.  Thanks to the handiwork of the union bosses America's fiscal ledger is starting to look like Greece: Even the most casual observers know the federal government has a serious debt problem that's propelling the USA toward the same cliff as Greece. Less well known is that certain states and localities are even worse off. Or at least their problems are coming to a head sooner, as they have fewer options for kicking the proverbial can down the road. States can't print money, and they have limits on borrowing. Much of their shortfall, moreover, is the result of pension obligations that are binding contracts, not just political promises. The looming shortfalls were hidden in recent years through a combination of outright deceit and overly rosy projections for annual investment returns. But the truth is now emerging. Last month, a panel from Stanford University concluded that California's public employee pensions were underfunded by $500 billion. That's about $35,700 per California household. Nationally, the American Enterprise Institute estimates that state pension funds are more than $3 trillion short.